Is Batman Too Dominant In The Comic Market?

I mean of course he's got billions, he's got the weapons and technology but he is not as nearly as powerful as Superman or Green Latern... What makes him so great?

Editorial Opinion
By George88 - Feb 11, 2011 12:02 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman

Yesterday I decided to re-watch The Dark Knight for about the millionth time when something quite startling hit me. I realized that The Dark Knight is hailed by about 99.9% of comic fans as the greatest comic book movie ever. This feat was represented by making over a billion in the box office making it the best selling CBM ever. Then I also realized that Batman: Arkham Asylum is also hailed as the greatest comic book hero game ever. This got me thinking about what makes Batman so great? I mean of course he's got billions, he's got the weapons and technology but he is not as nearly as powerful as Superman or Green Latern. In fact he'd probably get beaten up by any of the Justice League yet this character has appeared in the most issues of comics in the DC universe. This is a guy who is no different to any other human being. No superpowers, just money. So what makes this guy such a prestigious market. Burton's first two movies were real gems which finally brought a dark and edgy take to the caped crusader crushing the campy style from Adam Wests 60's TV show. Then Joel Schumacher took the reins and produced the decent Batman Forever which has its fans and haters but overall was OK. Then he completely destroyed Batman's reputation with the horrible Batman & Robin which not only has been considered as the worst CBM but the worst movie ever. Yet after a mere few years from this shocking flop there were talks of a sequel named Batman Triumphant. After the poor return from Batman & Robin this sequel was scraped. I believed this would be the end of Batman on film for a while yet more and more scripts and pitches were turned in including Batman DarKnight, Batman Beyond, Batman Year One and Batman vs Superman. In the end were given the fantastic Batman Begins but back to the point Superman fans had to wait 19 years for a the poor Superman Returns yet one of the worst movies ever had only an 8 year gap until its next movie. This is another sign of the favourtism towards Batman. Finally my point is that Batman of course a fantastic character and I read every issue he has yet isn't time that after The Dark Knight Rises we let the character lie low for a bit giving other characters from DC to be able to please us fans and give other characters a chance at the mainstream. Batman is a huge character and probably the most famous in the world so what harm will it do to let another hero to take his light. He has conquered the world of film, the world of game and the comic book universe, what else is there for him to conquer? After all he is only human.

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golden123
golden123 - 2/11/2011, 1:08 PM
Batman is DC's most popular character. Do I need to say more?
golden123
golden123 - 2/11/2011, 1:10 PM
And doesn't it make more sense that after being in one of the worst movies of all time that character should get amovie faster than a character that was in a movie not as bad?
PaulRom
PaulRom - 2/11/2011, 1:18 PM
I didn't thoroughly enjoy The Dark Knight because it was a Batman movie. I thought the acting, script, costuming, even the dialogue made this the best CBM ever (and personally my favorite movie ever, period). And I think Batman is as popular as he is now is because he's easily one of the most recognizable (rivaled only by Superman and maybe Spider-Man).
George88
George88 - 2/11/2011, 2:05 PM
@Golden123

Superman IV was awful and that never got a sequel straight away. What I am saying is Batman has got everything already so does he really have to be still the flagship character. There are so many just as cool character but because DC continues to only use Batman they never get limelight. I hope Green Latern is a success this year so it can open the door for more DC characters. Batman has had 20 years in film, TV, video game and comics as the dominant figure, I believe the torch should now be past on.
golden123
golden123 - 2/11/2011, 2:50 PM
@George97: I was talking comic wise, for popularity not how much of an icon Batman is, for popularity.
SanDevil77
SanDevil77 - 2/11/2011, 5:33 PM
kary@ ur so right when it comes to supes villains. batman has the best set of rogues in all of comics. people say that behind every great hero is an amazing villain. Batman has a ton of em.
andypand89
andypand89 - 2/11/2011, 6:49 PM
the only reason i love batman so much is the fact he is only human and christopher nolans vision is just perfect because he is a human being and he isnt perfect and he cant save everyone and he could exsist in the real world that why batman owns period.
golden123
golden123 - 2/11/2011, 7:31 PM
@xenix: They named their company off Detective Comics because it was their first popular ongoing comic, and it is currently still running. It is the oldest continuously published comic book in the United States.
golden123
golden123 - 2/11/2011, 7:33 PM
@The DarkHorner: It's about as plausible that Superman or Spider-man could live in the real world than it is Batman. Just because the character is supposibly human and without super powers doesn't automatically mean he is realistic.
drewXdeficit
drewXdeficit - 2/11/2011, 11:02 PM
I am a die-hard Batman fan, and I can honestly say, yes, DC is pretty big on Batman. From a marketing standpoint, it makes sense; Batman is their most popular, most recognized character. They do, however, have some other awesome characters that could use some of Batman's popularity. Green Arrow, for example, is also "just a guy with money."

Also, in the original post, you claim to love "The Dark Knight" yet you belittle the character of Batman as just a guy with a bunch of money, which tells me you do not truly understand the character. I mean, that oversimplification can be done with anyone: Hal Jordan's just a guy with a ring; Superman is just an orphan who likes to catch some rays; Wonder Woman is just a chick who stands up for herself.
George88
George88 - 2/12/2011, 1:06 AM
@drewXdeficit Of course I understand the character, I buy every comic and have done for the last 20 years which is probably longer than you have. What I'm trying to say that I do love Batman but there are so many cool characters in the DC Universe that could be developed for the mainstream yet DC constantly turns to Batman. I think after Nolans trilogy its best to leave Batman alone for a while unless a Justice League movie comes along. He has done so well for the last 20 years and will forever famous so now it is time to pass the torch.
theBat81
theBat81 - 2/12/2011, 1:39 AM
@golden: You said it yourself--"This is a guy who is no different to any other human being."

Why do we read comics at all? When you strip away the implausibility, they distill the world. For one reason or another we all identify with the heroes (and villains if it's a good writer) within our favorite titles. Batman faces, in my humble opinion, some of the most philosophically and existentially complex issues that we all face. Our pasts, our loses, our relationships, our sacrifices, and how to hold a balance, and commit ourselves to making a difference while still carrying an immense personal burden--as we all do, or at least should. His humanity is seen as a handicap by enemies, and a shortcoming by his peers, but he works harder than the lot of them. He has money, but doesn't enjoy it. It is a tool to procure tools to further his obsession [something else familiar to us fanboys?;)] So he impacts the world around him for the better with essentially nothing more than what any of us are given upon arrival.

Sorry, I love philosophy and Batman =)
golden123
golden123 - 2/12/2011, 3:19 PM
@theBat81: When did I ever say "This is a guy who is no different to any other human being." And most importantly, why did you leave that comment? I don't get what your trying to prove or answer.
theBat81
theBat81 - 2/12/2011, 4:15 PM
@Golden--The middle of the tenth line. I'm saying he is 'dominant' because he is the most easy to identify with.
theBat81
theBat81 - 2/12/2011, 4:19 PM
Shit, sorry. I thought you were the author! It was late as hell when I wrote the response =)
DBeck
DBeck - 2/13/2011, 12:18 PM
I wouldn't say he's too dominant in the comic market, as he is the DC universe.
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